Taurus TCP with Wings

In an effort to assist shooters with limited upper body strength and/or poor technique, Taurus now offers “wings” on the TCP pistol. The TCP with Wings as it is being called is an intriguing idea, but one that may be flawed in its current form.

I had a chance to handle one on the SHOT Show floor, and I spoke with a company rep. Here is what I learned…

The new Taurus TCP with Wings functions the same as a regular TCP. However, Taurus added a pair of metal flaps attached to the rear of the slide by hinges. The wings are retractable so that they are not constantly sticking out.

According to Taurus, these wings are specifically designed “…for shooters who may require assistance chambering a round or locking back the slide.”

I spent some time handling a sample model at the Taurus booth. The wings do offer a flat point to help with retracting the slide. However, I found a few potential problems with the configuration.

Ease in Deployment

The wings are fairly difficult to deploy. There doesn’t seem to be an easy way to pull either of the wings out. Digging a fingernail behind the top of the flap works, but is a very fine motor skill that could not be done by anyone under pressure. In fact, the Taurus rep showing me the gun had difficulty in quickly pulling it out.

I am concerned that even if the flap never needed to be deployed in a stressful situation, someone with even minor hand trembles would have a very difficult time in getting the wings out.

Durability

Quite frankly, the wings are thin and do not feel like they would handle regular use. Both the hinge and the thin metal are potential failure points.

I asked the Taurus rep about the durability of the wings. He replied that the guns had more than 1,000 rounds through them. However, he was a bit vague about how many times the TCP wings had been tested.

There was also no clear statement from the Taurus rep that the wings would be able to handle the forces associated with using them for a one-handed reload. While this maneuver would likely be uncommon, it is something I would hope it could accomplish – especially for a gun that could be used as a backup by law enforcement officers or others.

Finish

The finish on the hinges was pretty worn when I got to the gun on the first day of the SHOT Show. I don’t know how many times the gun had been handled prior to my arrival. However, I mention it as it might be important to some readers.

Specifications

model #

black: 738BWGS, stainless: 738SWGS

caliber

.380 ACP

magazine capacity

6 rounds

barrel length

3.3"

overall length

5.25"

weight (unloaded)

10.2 oz

sights

fixed

MSRP

Taurus is expecting to ship the new TCP pistols by the end of the Q2. A MSRP has not yet been set, though the rep stated it should be close to the existing TCP models.

It is possible that the gun will be changed prior to release. While the first Taurus rep I spoke with stated the gun would ship “as is,” the second rep said he would take my suggestions back to the design team. The second rep stated the gun was still under development, so we might see a beefed up version when it hits the shelves.

Update

In an apparent effort to create controversy, a person posted on his blog that these photos demonstrated poor gun handling safety on my part. Beyond that, this person made some unfortunate remarks about me as an individual.

I understand that my regular readers are adults who exercise good judgement when handling firearms and are capable of being able to rationally think. Therefore, I do not expect that I have to explain the context of each and every photo taken on the site because my readers are not stupid.

However, for the benefit of any new readers that have made their way here from this individual’s blog, let me put these photos into context:

the gun shown does not have a firing pin in it

the gun shown does not have any ammunition in it, nor was there any on my person or in the Taurus booth

the gun was checked by me, NSSF staff and Taurus staff prior to these photos being taken

Gun safety rules are a good thing, but like most things they can be carried to the extreme and defeat common sense if applied with a dogmatic zeal. The minute common sense is made to suffer for anyone’s “rule,” the rules should immediately be re-evaluated. History is rife with dogma trampling common sense at the detriment to all.

Should anyone have any questions about anything on this site, feel free to do what the unprofessional critic chose not to do – contact me.

2016 Update

Taurus returned to the drawing board and is trying again. At the 2016 SHOT Show, the company had a new version of the TCP with Wings on display. The new version has larger wings and a scalloped area on the slide for easier wing deployment.

I’m still not convinced the gun could handle the rigors of wing use on any regular bases. However, at least the company recognized the original design was not optimal and is trying to improve it.

Reader Interactions

Comments

I think that a spring system with thicker metal pieces would work well, click a button and the wings deploy. This is something that could be a part of an actual shooting routine and practice. The only way that I see these being effective in their current state, is for the person that doesn’t go shooting often, but when they do, they practice, but for the most part shoot a hundred rounds one day a month, then reload, and carry their gun. I don’t think that the design was for someone not carrying one in the chamber, or for someone who is going to constantly be racking their slide.
I believe this gun has double strike capability so the user doesn’t need to rack it every time to reset the trigger like a Glock.
Also if you rack the slide normally while having the wings out, they don’t bare the entire pull, I’m wondering if that’s how they are designed. Because I don’t know if the wings are supposed to be pulled on like pulling back a bow, or simply works as a stopper for your hand to slip within a normal racking motion.

They clearly stated it was for people that lacked the hand strength both for racking and while shooting to help control the shooters hands from flying up while shooting. Either way i see something that is a failure from jump street and will now actually work as they intend it to.

I know it’s for racking the slide, what I was trying to say is there is less strain put into the wings if you rack the slide with normal form and use the wings as a stop to prevent your hand from slipping. I think people are assuming you only pull on the wings like you draw back on a bow, only using your fingers against the wings.

The intensions, according to their website, is for both racking while gripping the slide or pulling back as a “bow” like movement. So you can assume what you want but the company clearly stated their intensions and considering they made it i will take their work for it. Keep assuming!

My wife has Rheumatoid Arthritis so I give Tarsus prop for thinking about those with limited hand strength but not a thumbs up for the design and execution. In truth, though the design might help here grasp the slide more effectively I doubt if it would help her rack the slide. A lager caliber “tip up barrel” model would seem like a better option for a semi auto if feasible, or like I have done, have a SA or DA model revolver with a light hammer and trigger pull.

This gun sounds intriguing to me. I have 2 Berettas, both with tip-up barrels: .32 Tomcat & 9 mm short, or .380 auto. I have very weak hands & arm strength, so that’s why I chose guns with tip-up barrels. All I need to do is push a button & the barrel comes up, ready for me to pop in a bullet & the gun is ready to go. This is, by far, the best design for someone with weak hands.

Yah, I think if there’s a shooter incapable of normally racking the slide, he/she should probably consider a tip-up design, or a revolver. Liam and Janice are both on the right track, IMO. And listen, nothing against someone without the dexterity to rack the slide, especially for women, or those with physical limitations (RA or neurogenic disorders); but I think it may result in a safety issue. Let’s say someone is trying with all of their might to rack the slide, and they unintentionally have their finger on the trigger…what happens if they get slide pull, have their finger on the trigger, and it just so happens to fire when the slide returns forward and the hammer is triggered! Hopefully, they have the firearm pointed in a safe direction!
As far as the wings, it sounds like they haven’t worked the kinks out in terms of performance…and I would also be hesitant to use them from a shooting perspective. You now have these two protrusions that could get caught on, or strike against something else. You ever see that video where someone holds a hot dog against the back of the slide while firing? It’s supposed to represent the idea of your finger(s) and/or hand in that position while firing. It rips the hot dog apart and sends it flying. Those wings just seem like a bad idea to me…

Evidently there is no one on this page that suffers from arthritis. I have it in my hands so bad I can’t pull the action back more then 3/4″ at best. This is just what someone like myself needs to be able to enjoy shooting a semi again. Revolvers are not for me, first one I fired burned badly, two of my fingers from the side blast.

Last year I sold two of my semi’s because I hated just using them to fill space in my gun locker.

It would be nice if all the haters out there would think about who needs these specially oriented models and why. Who know, maybe one of your young daughters who doesn’t quite have the hand strength to chamber a round without the wings may just need it to save a life.